Had his career as an AFL footballer stalled along the way, Jason Tutt could well have contemplated a career in baseball - maybe even a return to fastpitch softball where, in another life as a junior Australian rep player he earned world championship honours no less.
That happened in Canada back in 2008, when the Victorian Drew Faulkner got gold for Tutt and his team with runs in the bottom of the eighth in the ISF Championship game against the Canadians.
Tutt’s interest in fastpitch can be sourced to his teenage years in Canberra where football, somewhat surprisingly, ran fourth or thereabouts in terms of sporting pursuits.
At 15, he resolved to pursue fastpitch and in 2008 duly earned national selection as third catcher for the Australian Under 19 team, which emerged global conquerors for the fourth consecutive time in the ISF World Junior Fastpitch champs.
Back then, according to Tutt, rugby union held sway in terms of participation in the ACT, ahead of league and soccer, with AFL a very poor fourth.
Tutt briefly pursued union in his schooldays as a full-back, then took up the oval ball code at Tuggeranong and later Ainslie. He unhesitatingly declares his then Ainslie coach Chris Rourke as a major influence, together with his former schoolteacher and Queanbeyan footballer of renown Mark Armstrong.
Recalling that he was the only school kid to commit to Australian Rules at the time, Tutt likes to consider himself an ACT ambassador of sorts. As he said: “when I was first drafted I didn’t think much of it . . . but I was the first player out of Canberra in ten years to be drafted and do like to think I’ve given a couple of kids in that region a bit of hope that they can make a career out of it.”
Tutt, to whom Carlton was committed ahead of the recent trade period, was taken with the Blues’ first selection in the pre-season draft. He has truly acquainted himself with Visy Park and its inhabitants.
"It’s so far so good," said Tutt after completing a recent training session. “All the boys have been getting around me which is good . . . and of obviously Liam Jones has come across with me, which is great.”
Asked his reasoning for citing Carlton as his club of choice, the Western Bulldogs 26-gamer swiftly responded “development and opportunity”.
Jason Tutt played 26 games for the Western Bulldogs. (Photo: AFL Photos)
“I think that Mick (Malthouse), Andy McKay and the recruiting staff put forward their case and I looked at the Carlton Football Club as a place where I could get better. Everything I need to improve my football is right here and it’s tangible. It’s just a really great environment in which to learn and it’s a good fit for me in moving forward with my footy.”
Another factor governing Tutt’s thinking was the role they could see him fulfilling with Jeff Garlett’s departure as the crumbing forward who can push up.
“That was the role I had at the Bulldogs, although there was a bit of competition there with ‘Gia’ (Daniel Giansiracusa) there last year, and Luke Dalhaus, Nathan Hrovat and Lachie Hunter all good young players,” Tutt said.
“Here I can see that position as being mine and obviously if I play well enough to keep my spot I don’t see anybody else trying to take it off me.”
With the utmost respect to the Bulldogs for landing him with their second round selection (selection 39 overall) in the 2009 national draft, Tutt knows he’s made the right call in furthering his football development by matching speed with endurance.
As he said: “I’m 23 now and this is time for me to step up and take the opportunity that’s been given to me”.
“This will be my sixth pre-season, my body is ready for the rigours of AFL football now and it’s definitely time to take control,” he said.
Based in Yarraville with his partner and fellow Canberran Melissa (with whom Tutt will be celebrating Christmas in New York), Tutt is also pursuing a bachelor of applied science degree in physical education at Victoria University. Off the paddock, he sees a day where acts as mentor to Year 9/10 students who may themselves face the prospect of drafting.
After all, he’s been there done that.
But right now, it’s footy and for the former St Kilda supporter by virtue of Ainslie’s red, white and black strip, Tutt has well and truly embraced his new club and what it represents.
As he said: “To play at a club like Carlton in terms of its history and prestige will be a great honour and something I’m looking forward to doing”.
